Paul O'Connell 'not ready to join Lions coaching staff'
Tuesday 11 October 2016 21:41, UK
Paul O'Connell is backing the Lions to play their part in a thrilling series in New Zealand next summer - without his help.
The former skipper, who led the side on the 2009 tour of South Africa, was forced to retire from playing earlier this year after failing to recover from a torn hamstring.
Irishman O'Connell has since spent time helping out with the academy at Munster, the club where he came through the ranks and won two European titles.
But the 36-year-old says next summer's Lions series in the world champions' backyard will come too soon for a role on Warren Gatland's staff, even in an informal capacity.
"I'm nowhere near that level," O'Connell told Sky Sports News HQ at a book signing for his autobiography.
"The small bit of coaching I've done with academy I realise what a big jump it is and how much experience you need.
"He has a great selection of people available to him, and there are so many people on the staff these days I think coaches are trying to have less people involved. The less people involved the clearer the message."
O'Connell was recently brought in to give a motivational speech to Europe's Ryder Cup team, but his own inspiration as a young rugby player was a fellow Munsterman from a different sport.
"We grew up watching Roy Keane," he said. "He was our role model and we were quite tough on each other. It led to us being successful at Munster, but training was a tough environment."
